Rachel

Chapter 6

Jayce

I sighed, standing outside the small restaurant. I don't even know what I am doing here. But this is not the place that I wanted to visit, but since my car decided to stop working right in front of this place, I've no choice but to wait here, for someone to come and pick me up from this suburban town.

"So, what can I get for you," said a waiter as soon as I made my way inside, sitting at the table.

"Whatever sells the best," I said casually, not caring to stare at the menu.

"Sure," he smiled, leaving me alone with a glass of water.

Sitting alone in this nearly empty place, I glanced around the space, scanning my surroundings. This place is small and seems quite old for the style of interior and furniture. Still, this space has quite a calming vibe, and I don't know the right word to describe it, but it has quite a homey vibe and atmosphere around here, and what is strange is that I like it even when it's quite the opposite to my style or choice.

"Here, you go." My thoughts were diverted by the waiter's voice, who had two handfuls of plates, placing them both in front of me. "Our best and all-time favorite by the best," he said with a smile. The aroma wafting from the plates was enticing, and I couldn't wait to dig in and see if the food lived up to its reputation.

"Isn't it too much for just me?" I said, looking at the amount of food.

"Nah, just have a bite, and who knows, you might want some more," the waiter replied, winking playfully. I hesitated for a moment, but couldn't resist the temptation and took a small bite, savoring the burst of flavors that danced on my taste buds.

"Anyway, what is this dish called?" I asked, eyeing the colorful array of food on my plate.

The waiter smiled and replied, "It's one of our originals and a bestseller; if you're so interested, why don't you talk to the maker and creator of this?"

I nodded, taking a spoonful of food, and was surprised by the flavors of its contents. I closed my eyes, and a moan slipped unconsciously from my mouth as the food melted in my mouth.

Damn, this is the type of food I would've liked to devour, but no one can satisfy my standards or needs regarding the type of food that I want.

Sometimes being a chef comes with pros and cons of its own. I don't know or speak about others, but for me personally, cooking day in and day out and being around food sometimes gets so much that at one point I can't even make myself a bite. At least for the very beginning of my career, at one point, it became so much that I don't know how I discovered my eating disorder. While everyone in life loves and devours my food, I can't even bring myself to take a bite.

I guess that's why, from time to time, I started going out and eating somewhere where someone else cooked for me; at least that way, I could taste and learn something more while getting some food in my system.

I smiled, remembering a vivid memory of the past of how one day when I was waiting in a restaurant for food, an angel landed right on top of me and in my lap. That was the first time I met Rachel, without knowing that after that day she was going to someone very precious and close to my heart.

Until the day when she left without even saying goodbye, till this day I'm trying to find her, just so I can clear up any misunderstandings and hard feelings between us. But… I sighed. Rachel is nowhere near me.

"So, where is the creation of this masterpiece?" I said, looking at the waiter standing in front of me.

"We're so sorry, but just as I was going to call her, she seemed to disappear without any notice," the waiter replied, staring anywhere but at me.

"But why?" I asked. I wanted to meet the master behind this masterpiece.

"I don't know, but that's how sometimes Rachel is."

"Wait, Rachel…." Did he mention Rachel or something else?

"Yeah, it's one of Rachel's originals," he said, this time with a smile.

"How long has Rachel been working here, and do you have any pictures?" I said, hoping for it to be true.

"A year or so later, she works at night only, and her home is around the corner," he said, rippling in the direction of her home. "But why are you asking?"

I smiled with hope in my eyes. Maybe after a long whole year, I truly can find Rachel, but it is dangerous how this waiter shares her address with a stranger like me. "Thanks, and don't share any women addressed to random strangers; it might be dangerous," I said, tipping the waiter a heavy amount before leaving with the hope of finding my Rachel after all this time.

"Please just don't run this time; I've got many things that I would've liked to clear up for you."

I smiled, walking my way towards the address given by the waiter.

God, how it has been since I last saw Rachel's face, her smile, the rose fragrance of her shampoo, the warm hugs, the food that she used to cook for me so I could overcome my eating disorder, and most importantly, Rachel, as she was, sad yet smiling, hurt yet smiling no matter how bad the circumstances are for her, but always faces everything with a badass smile on her face. When I first met her at the restaurant, I thought she was one of the silent, fragile ones who needed support to overcome her nasty boss, but she surprised me personally, showing me the other side of her personality, the one she hides behind her professionalism.

Damn, I'll never forget the day when we came out of the restaurant. My arms were wrapped around my waist with her ankle sprained as we were walking toward the parking lot.